The owner of the Port St. Lucie gun shop confirmed that Omar Mateen bought the weapons used for the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history from his store.

The owner shared the information in a press conference Monday.

Advertisement

Ed Henson, store president of the St. Lucie Shooting Center, told WPBF 25 News that Mateen is "(an) evil person."

"(An) evil person came in here and (he) legally purchased two firearms from us," Henson said. "And if he hadn't purchased them from us, I'm sure (that) he would have gotten them from another local gun store in the area."

Mateen bought an AK-15 rifle and a 9 mm pistol from the gun shop, authorities said.

According to officials, Mateen is a licensed security guard and had a license to carry guns but still had to undergo a background check and three-day waiting period for the guns. Hanson said he doesn't know which weapon Mateen bought first.

Henson said it was a terrible time and he felt sympathy for the families of the victims. Asked how he was doing, Henson replied, "Not too good. It's a horrible thing, it's a horrible terrorist act and that's all I can tell you," said Henson. Henson would not comment on reports that Mateen also bought body armor and was wearing a bulletproof vest when he stormed Pulse in Orlando and was later shot dead by police.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents arrived around 2:30 p.m. Henson had said earlier they were coming for a routine compliance check.

Hanson said ATF agents inspected his records Monday and everything was in order. His shop was not closed down by authorities.

Mateen worked just a few miles from the St. Lucie Shooting Center, as a security guard at the south gate of PGA Villages. He was employed since 2007 by G4S, a national security firm with headquarters in Jupiter.

A former co-worker, Daniel Gilroy, told ABC News Mateen was mentally unstable, texted him repeatedly and made his life miserable until Gilroy finally quit.

Officials at the St. Lucie County Courthouse confirmed G4S had stationed Mateen at the courthouse until 2013, where he worked security at the front doors.

Tuesday, three G4S employees were screening visitors at the entrance. None would comment on whether they knew Mateen.

According to the FBI, they first reviewed Mateen in 2013 when co-workers complained he had made terroristic comments. It is unclear if those were co-workers at the courthouse, where he was then stationed, or if he had already moved on to a new assignment.